Dáil debates
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Topical Issue Debate
Fisheries Protection
4:05 pm
Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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I assume the Minister is equally aware of the difficulties regarding special predators and the consequent effect of diminishing fish stocks on the income of inshore fishermen, in particular those who have been struggling for a considerable time to try to make a living. I tabled this Topical Issue, following several meetings I have had with various fishing organisations and communities along the south and the west coast. I imagine this problem affects every part of Ireland's coast and that people are having similar experiences.
The argument being made is that the growing population of seals is responsible for a great deal of the damage that has been done to our fishing stocks.
One person I met had been fishing that morning with gillnet and got ten boxes of cod. I have a picture showing how three of them were absolutely destroyed by seals, and I can give the Minister a copy afterwards. That is practically a third of his catch for that day gone. Fishermen have difficulties trying to make ends meet before facing up to that. Others are drift netting and have the same experience. I have also met people involved with angling. I did not realise that, in particular, along the coastal areas and mouths of rivers, salmon breeding areas are being attacked by seals. That is their argument and people want to see what can be done.
I have been told a study has been carried out by the French Government and its findings have been accepted and supported by the European Union, EU, and it concerns the damage being done by seals to fish stocks. There is a lobby within the group seeking some kind of cull system to deal with the matter. The Minister might be able to enlighten the House about that. The body with the appropriate remit - I assume it is the National Parks and Wildlife Service - should carry out a survey on this to determine what can be done. In many parts of the country there is overpopulation of deer etc. and culling is put in place for various reasons. There is a strong argument that there should be a cull of the seal population in order to protect fish stocks and ensure people can get their just rewards.
It is not acceptable for somebody to haul the nets after 48 hours to find a third of the catch gone. There is a responsibility on us to act. It may not be politically palatable, and certain members of the public may find difficulty with this. Some mechanism should be formulated on the back of evidence supplied to us and this House by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Will the Minister confirm that the French Government has carried out a survey whose findings have been accepted by the EU in this regard. It is my understanding that this is the case.
4:15 pm
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ferris for raising the matter. Seals are a protected species under the EU Habitats Directive and seals are also protected under the Wildlife Acts. I am advised two species of seals, grey seals and harbour seals, are common in Irish waters. In so far as the management of the seal population is concerned, I clarify for the Deputy that this is the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and it is administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
I am aware the inshore fisheries sector is concerned about the interaction between seals and commercial inshore stocks. In January 2016, the National Parks and Wildlife Service accepted an invitation to discuss the seal population with the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, and I understand this discussion was viewed as constructive by both sides. I am also aware of the keen interest in seals by environmental non-governmental organisations such as the Irish Seal Sanctuary, which is active nationally and internationally in marine conservation spheres. I understand from the Marine Institute that a seal and fisheries focus group was set up to bring together industry, science and non-governmental organisations. Membership of the group has included scientists from the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the coastal and marine research centre of University College Cork, together with representatives from the Irish Seal Sanctuary and the Irish sea fishing industry. I am advised the group meets on an ad hocbasis.
With regard to research priorities for issues concerning sea fisheries, the Irish Fisheries Science Research Partnership was set up on an official basis to enhance collaboration and mutual understanding on fisheries science priorities that are beneficial to the long-term future of the Irish fishing industry. The partnership includes industry representatives such as those from the fishing industry producer organisations, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum and scientists from both the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara. It meets on a regular basis throughout the year to discuss scientific work programmes and priorities, including those relating to interactions between seals and sea fisheries. With regard to the interaction between seal populations and the conservation of fish stocks, I am advised that seals eat a wide variety of fish and invertebrates. Their diet appears to vary considerably depending on location, time of year and the abundance of available prey. I understand seals also consume salmon and other protected species that are under the responsibility for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I say this to illustrate the complexity of seal-fisheries interactions and particularly dealing with protected species.
In December 2013, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, published a report entitled Seal Depredation and Bycatch in Set Net Fisheries in Irish Waters. It found the predation impact of seals on landings of pollock, hake and monkfish had substantially increased since the 1990s and recommended mitigation measures such as smart fishing techniques, acoustic deterrents etc. be developed with stakeholder participation. BIM currently has a study under way in conjunction with Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy in University College Cork on the use of deterrents in different types of sea fisheries. A number of trials have taken place over the past year and further trials are planned this summer.
Seals are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and the Wildlife Acts but permits may be obtained under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts to hunt seals where significant damage is being caused. This redress is available, for example, to individual fishermen to control damage to fisheries by seals at particular locations. Permits may be issued by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in response to specific applications, with each application considered on its merits. I am advised that anybody with concerns about interactions with seals in particular locations should contact their local National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger in the first instance.
Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. My understanding is an application can be made to the National Parks and Wildlife and Service by a fishing organisation or community, and if the evidence is supported by an investigation, there would be some process to deal with the matter. The problem is that this is not happening. Perhaps much of that is down to people not being aware of the problem, and even our discussing it this afternoon might go some way towards giving people an avenue to bring the matter to the attention of the National Parks and Wildlife Service so it can carry out a survey and make appropriate decisions.
I would like to see even more than that. The damage being done to sea stocks and breeding grounds around this country is often argued to be the result of overfishing and reckless landings etc. What part of it could be down to the consumption of fish by the seal population? I have fished and I know seals have huge consumption rates, although they are beautiful creatures. On one occasion when I was fishing salmon, there were 34 salmon in my net, but by the time I got the net to the boat, there were 17 fish left. One seal had taken them and that goes back quite a bit. It was the norm at the time but the population was not nearly as big as it is now. We have the responsibility to get word to various organisations and communities that there is an avenue that they could pursue.
The Minister has not said anything about the evidence from the French survey. Would the relevant line Minister have it?
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am the line Minister.
Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister is the relevant line Minister.
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am on fisheries matters. I appreciate the insight that Deputy Ferris brings to the matter. I also appreciate that for inshore fisheries, this is a particular issue. The Deputy's photograph showed three from ten boxes being affected, which concurs with the statistics that we have. There was a BIM survey in 2015 that showed damage to catches caused by seals ranging from 59% of monkfish to 18% of pollock and 10% of hake catches over the course of 12 months of extensive onboard observations on inshore and offshore vessels.
That is approximately a third of catches, which is a very significant loss of effort by fishermen who, in the best of times, are never on the pig's back economically speaking.
This is an issue. The challenge for us in trying to deal with it is to bring together all the stakeholders, in particular the NGOs, which are particularly active in this area and which serve a very important function in the context of conservation. Seals are a protected species. There is provision under the Wildlife Acts, administered by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, for culling in certain circumstances. Perhaps consideration could be given to the regional inshore fisheries fora, at which cases in locations around the countryside in respect of which there may be issues can be considered in the context of provisions under the law. As I stated, the relevant legislation is section 42 of the Wildlife Acts. However, I think it would be preferable to proceed on an agreed basis with all the relevant stakeholders. There is provision for this. Awareness of the legislation is important. Perhaps the Deputy, through his good offices, could bring the legislation to the attention of the regional inshore fisheries fora and I am sure they could pursue the matter on a collaborative basis. There are fora already in existence.